Body ornament with electroluminescent portion

ABSTRACT

An ornament which may be worn on the neck, arm, waist, etc., and which employs light which may be electroluminescent, incandescent, or fluorescent. The ornament itself is constructed out of battery material which provides the electrical power for illumination; the surface of the ornament is provided with light sources or light emitting devices and connections are provided for energizing the sources. In an alternative embodiment the light sources are internal to the ornament and fiber optics guide the light from the source to the ornaments outer surface.

ELECTFODE 30 26 26 o r Unite States Patent 1 [1 1 5 9 Rosenblatt Feb. 5,1974 [54] BODY ORNAMENT WITH 2,405,384 8/1946 White 240/6.4 W

ELECTROLUMINESCENT PORTION 3,549,878 12/1970 Bailey 240/59 X [76]Inventor: Richard D. Rosenblatt, 4941 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONSArlington Ave., Riverdale, N.Y. 936,349 9/1963 Great Britain 63/1 R10471 6,412,162 4/1966 Netherlands 240/59 [22] Filed: 1971 PrimaryExaminer-F. Barry Shay 2 App] 200,312 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-RolandPlottel 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 240/2.25, 63/] R, 63/7, E 1 h b th k240/6 4 W n ornament w 10 may e worn on e nec arm, waist, etc., andwhlch employs light WhlCh may be [51] Int. Cl. A44c 5/00 elect o1minescent incandescent or fluorescent The [58] Field of Search 63/1, 2,23, 7; 240/6.4 W, r u

Mom 4 R 59 2 273/58 G DIG 24 ornament itself 1s constructed out ofbattery material which provides the electrical power for illumination;[-56] $322? $151 35553? 321;: 'fi i fiiel i ns ili v UNITED STATESPATENTS provided for energizing the sources. In an alternative 2,714,6838/1955 Jenkins 273/58 G embodiment the ources are internal to the o na-S fi? f f g ment and fiber optics guide the light from the source ml e a3,392,275 7/1968 Henrich 63/23 UX to the ornaments outer Surface2,798,148 7/1957 Di Lizio et al. 240/6.4 W 3 Claims, 7 Drawing FiguresF/RST ELECTRODE /4LuMm/A 77A! /8 PLATE 6 /5 20 E 7 A? 1 j l LEC7'E0LV7'ET4, I

SECOND 5 PATENTEDFEB 5 914 3.790.??5

' sum 1 BF 2 FIRST ELECTRODE Fl 6 2 1. L aM/NA TING 20 3 36 PL A TE 1 /6SECOND ELECTQODE 50 26 lllll l l l l BODY ORNAMENT WITHELECTROLIUMINESCENT PORTIIQN This invention relates generally toornaments, and particularly to ornaments to be worn on the body.

Although body ornaments were probably worn before the beginning ofrecorded history, it is only in the present century that really newmodes have been developed. For example, up to this light as a medium hasnot been used by craftsman and artisans interested in well designedornaments; such as rings, bracelets, brooches, necklaces, belts and thelike.

The present invention is directed to ornaments; bracelet, necklace,chain, button, belt, Worn on the body and which emit light. Inappearance, the light may be either brilliant or glowing, monochrome orof various colors, in accordance with the designers choice. A feature ofthe invention is to construct the ornament itself out of a batterymaterial which will provide the electrical power for illumination.Typically, the omament is formed into any desired shape, such as abracelet. Light emitting devices, such as lamps, or light emittinglenses are suitably mounted on the surface of the bracelet. The centralcore or internal volume of the bracelet is filled with the batterymaterial. A switch may be included in the bracelet, and when the wearerdesires, the switch is activated and the light source on the braceletbecomes illuminated. It will be appreciated that most battery materialhave a putty'like consistency, and may be molded to fit into a varietyof shapes, which fill the internal cavities of the ornaments. By thisarrangement, there is an efficient use of the volume or space availablein the ornament to obtain the maximum electrical capacity that can bechemically stored by the battery material in this space. By thisarrangement ornaments can be fabricated, which are of a size and weightwhich can be comfortably worn on the body and which, in appearance, willemit illumination, which can be of great intensity and brilliance.

Thus, there is provided a self-contained body ornament which, as part ofthe decorative function thereof, includes light or illumination.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer surface of theornament, or portions or its outer surface are provided withelectroluminescent plates. These plates may be of different colors,shapes and sizes, and they may be electrically connectable by the wearerto the battery material internal to the ornament. Thus, a glowingjewelery or ornament is provided. Artists using this invention maydesign ornaments which, not only require ambient light as was heretoforedone, but also with glowing colors and thereby create new artistic andpleasing effects.

In a further embodiment of the invention, individual lenses may beplaced on the outer surface of the ornament. These lenses may beilluminated from light source internal to the ornament. Typically, fiberoptics or other light wave guides, connect the internal light source tothe lenses on the surface. In a further embodiment, incandescent lightsources are mounted over the surface of the ornament.

It is envisioned in one embodiment that the battery material will bemolded inside of the ornament. However, this is not essential to theinvention, and replaceable or interchangeable standard battery cellsmight be used.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ornament made according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ornament of FIG. 1 taken throughlines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plain view showing an alternative embodiment of an ornamentin a closed position and (in phantom) in an open position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 3 takenthrough line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plain view, partially cut away, of another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modification of the embodiment shownin FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a further embodiment ofthe invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of anornament made in accordance with this invention. The ornament is shownhere as a band which may be worn as a bracelet or anklet. The surface ofthe ornament is made from an electroluminescent plate which, whenconnected to a source of electrical potential, will emit light and glow.A switch 14 is provided on the inside of the ornament and may be movedbetween two positions. In one position, electrical energy is connectedto the electroluminescent plate 12, while in the second position,electrical energy is not so connected. As seen in FIG. 1, and moreclearly in FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view through the ornamenttaken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, the central portion of the ornament isfilled with a battery material shown generally by the legend 16. Theswitch 14 selectively connects one terminal of the battery to the oneterminal of the electroluminescent material to close the circuit and toilluminate the electroluminescent material.

Referring to FIG. 2 specifically, the structure of the battery materialswitch and electroluminescent plate can be examined in detail. Thebattery material can be any convenient or conventional electric cell inwhich chemical energy is converted into electrical energy. As apractical matter, most batteries will be primary cells of the dry kind,although rechargeable or secondary cells might be used and other thandry cells might also be employed. A typical battery material for use inthe present invention would be a modified leclanche cell having a carboncathode 20 which would be curved and form the center core of theornament. An electrolyte 22 surrounds the carbon cathode and-typicallyconsists of a moist paste of ammonium chloride, zinc chloride, manganesedioxide and carbon particles which improve the conductivity and assistthe depolarizining action of the manganese dioxide. The electrolyte issurrounded by a zinc anode 24 which serves the double purpose of beingboth an anode and a container for the electrolyte. Theelectroluminescent plate 12 has an electroluminescent material 26 whichemits light when an electrical potential is placed across it andincludes an outer electrode which is transparent to light 28. When anelectrical potential is maintained between the electrodes 24 and 28, thematerial 26 glows or emits light. It will be noted that the anode 24Of.the battery material is also one electrode for the electroluminescentmaterial 26. The plate, 12, is in fixed permanent relation with theouter surface, 24, of the battery, 16. The difference in potentialbetween the cathode 20 and anode 24 of the battery material is typicallya few volts. When the cathode is connected to the transparent electrode28, the electroluminescent material 26 glows. This connection is made bymeans of a conductor 30 extending between the cathode 20 and a switch14. The switch 14 includes a slide connector 32 which makes contact tothe electrical conductor 30, which in turn is attached to the cathode20. The slide connector has a button 34 which extends through an openingin the switch housing 36 and which is adapted to be moved from a firstposition to a second position by the wearer of the ornament. As shown inFIG. 2, the slide connection is in the off position. The switch includesa second contact 38 which is connected to the outer transparentelectrode 28. When the push button 34 on the slider 32 is moved from theoff position as shown in FIG. 2 to the up or onward position shown inphantom in FIG. 2, an electrical connection is made between theconductor and the contact 38. Thus, a potential of the cathode 20 isapplied to the outer electrode 28 by the cable 30, slider 32 and contact38. With the potential of the battery impressed between the electrode 28and the anodesecond electrode 24, the electroluminescent material 26glows. Thus, with the slider switch in its on position a potential isimpressed across the electroluminescent material 26 causing it to glowand emit light.

It should be appreciated that various modifications may be made on theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, it is not necessary touse a leclanchetype of primary cell, as other types of cells may beused, such as an alkaline or mercury cell or carbon zince cell, silveroxide cell or any one of the well known varieties of such batterymaterial. The electroluminescent material 26 may typically be a zincsilicon selenium copper compound although any other convenient orconventional-type of light-emitting electroluminescent material issuitable. A large variety of such materials are currently commerciallyavailable and are sometimes referred to as LED, for light emitting diodematerials. It might be noted that where higher potentials are requiredfor illuminating the electroluminescent material several individualcells may be hooked together in series. Furthermore, the electrode 24 inFIG. 2 serves the purpose of being both the anode of the batterymaterial, and one electrode of the electroluminescent surface. Otherarrangements may be used in which protective casings may be added overthe anode 24 and second electrodes are used for the electroluminescentsurface.

Referring now to the drawings of FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown analternative embodiment of the invention. The former figure is a plainview of a body ornament bracelet in its closed position and which isalso shown in phantom in its open position. The latter figure is across-sectional view taken through line 44 of FIG. 3. The ornament hastwo C-shaped members 40 and 42 which are hinged together at 44 and whichsnap together at their other end by a fastener at 46. Two incandescentlamps 48 and 50 are mounted in each half of the ornament 40 and 42 andprotrude through the surface thereof. Thd hinge at 44 not only permitsthe bracelet to be opened, but also serves as an electrical switch forclosing an electrical path between the battery material inside thebracelet and the lamps 48 and 50. Thus, when the bracelet is closed, thelamps 48 and 50 are not illuminated.

Referring to the embodiment now in detail, and particularly to FIG. 4,the center core of the bracelet is filled with a battery material 52.This is semi-circular in shape and fills the inside portion of thebracelet. The battery material is contained in its own housing and maybe slidably removed from the outer wall or housing 42 of the bracelet aswill be seen in more detail below. The battery material 52 has an anodeterminal 54 and a cathode terminal 56 at its opposite end. The lamp 50is mounted inside the housing 42 with the illuminated end protrudingthrough an aperture in the wall of the housing at 58. The aperture 58may be opened, as shown, or alternatively a glass or lense may bemounted in the aperture 58. Lamp 50 screws into a screw'connection 60located inside the housing. An electrical conducting connection 62 isprovided between one terminal of the lamp, shown here as the threadedscrew, and the anode 54 of the battery material 52. The second terminalof the lamp (the button on the bottom of the lamp) is connected to anelectrical conductor 64 which extends (not shown) along the inside ofthe housing to an electrically conductive resilient electrode 66 locatednear the cathode terminal 56 of the battery material 52. In FIG. 4, theelectrode 66 is shown in contact with the cathode 56. The batterymaterial 52 is held in place by a resilient spring 68 which urges thebattery towards the lamp. This end of the housing 42 is screwablyconnectable by a screw thread 70 to the hinge mechanism 44. When thehousing 42 is screwed off the hinge mechanism, the full diameter of theinside of the housing is opened and the resilient electrode 66 may befolded out and the spring 68 and battery material 52 may be removed fromthe housing 42. The hinge mechanism 44 includes the fixed end plate 72which screws onto the thread 70 of the housing 42, a flat portrudingmember 74 which has an aperture therethrough and which lays adjacent tothe flat member 74 of the other semi-circular half of the ornament. Arivet 76 joins the two flat members together. An ear 78 extends outwardfrom each flat member. When the ornament is closed, the ear 78 extendsinto the adjacent housing and makes mechanical contact with theresilient electrode 66 and urges it forward into touching electricalcontact with the cathode 56 of the battery material 52. This closes theelectrical circuit from the cathode through the resilient electrode 66,the electrical conductor (part of which is not shown) and to electrode64 and thence to the lower terminal of the lamp 50. The other terminalof the lamp (is screw fitting) is connected by electrode 62 to the anodeof the battery material and thus the lamp is illuminated.

It will be appreciated in the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 the battery 52is self encapsulated. The threaded opening 70 at the end of each housingpermits the battery material to be removed and a fresh battery materialto be introduced. The lamp is illuminated by closing the bracelet, andextinguished by opening the bracelet. Alternatively, a push buttonswitch may be inserted in the side wall of the housing so that the lampsmay be illuminated by operating the switch rather than by closing thebracelet. This would permit the wearer to turn off the light even whenthe bracelet is closed.

FIG. 5 is a plain view, partially cut away, of another embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 5 shows an ornament, such as a bracelet or ahalf of a decorative object to be worn around the waist. It is partiallycurved so as to conform to the shape of the wearer. The surface of theobject is studded with small lamps, shown here with legends 80. Thelamps are mounted in the outer housing 82 of the ornament. Internal tothis housing 82 (not shown) is the battery material which may be similarto the material shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Each of the lamps has suitableelectrical connection to the battery material and this is shown in thecutaway portion of the drawing as an electrode 84 connected to thelowest portion of the lamps, and the inner surface of the housing at 86forming the second electrode connected to the side portion at the baseof the lamps. Suitable switches, such as shown in the previous figures,may be included in the ornament of FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown a perspective 7 view of amodification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Here instead of apair of incandescent lamps 48 and 50 there is shown an ornament having aplurality of light sources shown as 90. The light sources 90 may befluorescent rings mounted on the outer housing 92 of the ornament. Apair of leads internal to the housing (not shown) would be connected toeach of the lights 90 from the anode and cathode of the battery material(not shown) which is inside the housing 92. The rings'of light may be ofdifferent colors or of the same colors. The rings of light may be eitherfluorescent, or incandescent, or electroluminescent, or any otherconvenient and conventional source of light. The portion of the outerhousing 92 between the light sources 90 may also be made of a lightemitting material, such as an electroluminescent material of the kindshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the entire outer surface of the ornamentwould emit light. In this figure, the hinge arrangement 94 and fastener96 are shown which are similar to the hinge and fastener shown in FIG.3.

Referring now to FIG. 7, in this embodiment there is shown an outerhousing 100 of the ornament, and a portion of the battery material 102and a light bulb 104. One terminal of the bulb 106 is connected to oneterminal 108 of the battery material. The second terminal is connectedby a conductor 110 to the other terminal of the battery material (notshown). Extending from the forward face of the bulb 104 are a pluralityof light-conducting guides designated generally 112. The other ends ofthese guides extend through the walls of the housing 100. These guidesare typically fiber optics. Fiber optics 112 have the properties ofcarrying light from their source at the bulb to their terminals at theoutside of the housing 100. Thus, light is carried by the bundle offiber optics from the light bulb 104 to the outside of the ornament 100.The optics may terminate in the side walls of the housing 100, either atan aperture as shown in the drawing, or in an end plate (not shown) orin a lense which may disperse or otherwise focus the light emergingtherefrom. It will be appreciated that the different techniques ofillumination on the surface of the ornament, may be combined so as toprovide an electroluminescent region, with light emerging from fiberoptics. Other combinations may also be made within the spirit of theinvention.

While the invention has been described with the example of a braceletornament, it is not so limited and it may be used in any body ornament,such as necklace, waistband, etc. Furthermore, body ornaments mayinclude collars to be worn on domestic animals, such as dogs.

In summary, there has been shown and described an ornament to be worn onthe body which has an outer housing which surrounds and contains abattery material. Light sources are contained within the ornament andbrought out to the surface of the ornament. With this invention, artistsand craftsmen may design jewelery and other decorative items and employlight as a new medium and thereby create items of new and decorativeeffect.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been describedherein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thatprecise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may beeffected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from thescope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A body ornament having a cross-section over a substantial portion ofits length of a. a core cathode member,

b. an electrolyte surrounding said cathode member,

c. an anode surrounding said electrolyte and substantially in the shapeof the ornament,

d. an electroluminescent material directly in contact with andsurrounding said anode,

e. a transparent electrode on said electroluminescent material, and

f. switch means connected to said cathode member and said electrode forselectively electrically connecting said cathode member and electrode.

2. An ornament in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transparentelectrode forms at least a portion of the other surface of saidornament.

3. An ornament according to claim 1, wherein said electroluminescentmaterial includes plates of at lest two different colors.

1. A body ornament having a cross-section over a substantial portion ofits length of a. a core cathode member, b. an electrolyte surroundingsaid cathode member, c. an anode surrounding said electrolyte andsubstantially in the shape of the ornament, d. an electroluminescentmaterial directly in contact with and surrounding said anode, e. atransparent electrode on said electroluminescent material, and f. switchmeans connected to said cathode member and said electrode forselectively electrically connecting said cathode member and electrode.2. An ornament in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transparentelectrode forms at least a portion of the otHer surface of saidornament.
 3. An ornament according to claim 1, wherein saidelectroluminescent material includes plates of at lest two differentcolors.